We were fortunate to be able to travel with our President Sinjoux, mission president; Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy and Elder Tarati, our area authority and their wives to the island of Tubuai for a District Conference of the Church. We left on Friday afternoon and got back Sunday evening. The weekend was packed with meetings, food, entertainment, food, an island tour, food, more meetings and, of course, more food.

 As we left Tahiti, we walked out to the plane, around it  and then got on.

 

 Below are 4 pictures of Tubuai as we were approaching. The island is about 3 miles wide and 5.5 miles long. It is inhabited by about 2000 people of whom 700 are members of our Church. The island was introduced to the Church by Addison Pratt in 1844. Tubuai is about 400 miles directly south of Tahiti. It is the largest island of a chain of 5 that make up the Australes Islands.

 

  

 Here we are deplaning.

 

Welcome to Tubuai.

Later that evening we were treated to an evening of cultural events which included singing and dancing.

 All of the visitors were given welcoming gifts which included woven place mats & fans  and sheet & pillow cases.

 Elder Watson at a memorial to Addison Pratt.

A more formal memorial to Addison Pratt.

Several of our meals were outdoors under the tent. The rest were served in the Church.

 Sweetie, will you get me some sand for a souvenir to take back home? Yes, dear.

An outing into the forest area to see the remnants of a "marae", a place of religious rituals.

Oh, look, passion fruit. Anyone want some?

Here we are on  the beach.

 Youth paddling a "va'a".

 Kay & some of her young friends she found at the Church. They needed a grandma & grandma needed some grandkids.

Kay & the Relief Society President sharing a fun moment. Probably neither understood the other.

A rainbow over one of the islets around Tubuai.

Back at the airport waiting for the plane to arrive, we decided to have our picture taken in front of the map of Tubuai.

Da plane! Da plane!

We spent a very enjoyable 48 hours on a very small island surrounded by hundreds of members who were happy to see some outsiders and hear of our activities. What a great weekend!

We had the opportunity to visit the "Tahiti and her Islands Museum" These 2 photos show a 3D look at the islands.  Very interesting to see the exhibit.

We found the IKEA of Tahiti.  You ask what do they stock!  1 plastic end table, a table with 2 chairs for children, 1 red leather chair with a ottoman, Chinese room dividing screen, a 2 shelf bookcase, a round Formica dining table with chairs, 2 lamps and a wicker ball lamp shade .  You can almost see it all in these photos.

A prize for the first person that can tell me what's wrong with this photo.

All the tables you can see plus 10 more that you can't see are covered in fresh flower leis and shells.  We were early to the airport so the ladies had not uncovered their tables yet.  They sell plenty.

Many people ride bikes here but you don't see cars with bike racks.  You do see Vaa racks.  Cars are small boats are long.  This is a one man outrigger canoe (Vaa).  We think they have 1 man, 2 man,
3 man and 6 man Vaa's.

Other duties as assigned.  President Sinjoux ask that we take Marina (Cook for the mission home) shopping and pay for what ever she needed.  She preferred this fruit stand located on a busy round about.

What do you do with ugly light posts.  Well of course you weave palm leaves around them and add fresh flowers.

The Chapel has fresh flowers every Sunday, no fake greenery or silk flowers here.

When the weatherman said CYCLONE, people were tying their roofs down.

We were visiting a set of the Sister Missionaries and this was the view from their porch.  Looking at the Island of Moorea.

We are excited to welcome our single sister to the mission.  She will be our mission nurse, and has already been busy.  Sister Bangerter is originally from Haiti but has been living in Texas for the last few years.  She has a son on a mission and a daughter at BYU.

 This last week we had our largest group of missionaries so far.  We received 26 missionaries in 3 days.  The first 3 live in France, they have been at the Provo Mission Training Center.  They arrived Wednesday night about 11:00pm.  Our 1st trip to the airport this week.

 The second group of 13 missionaries are from the French Polynesia Islands. 2 Sisters and 1 Elder are from our Ward here in Tahiti. They have been to the New Zealand Mission Training Center prior to returning for their missionary service.  They arrived in at 12:30am Friday morning.

 Our next group of 10 missionaries arrived at 4:30am Saturday morning.  They arrived from the Provo Mission Training Center. It was a short night for us and a long flight for them.

The sisters in our Ward (Papeete 1) made all the lais for us to greet the new missionaries with. Thanks so much for all the help and support you are for the missionaries.

This is lunch with the new French Missionaries and their trainers and a couple extras.  Some love to clown around and others like to hide, but they all love to eat.


It is customary to remove your shoes before entering a home here in Tahiti.  We arrived at the Mission Presidents home just after the Tahitian Missionaries arrived for Breakfast. 

The sisters shoes on one side of the door, and the Elders on the other side of the door.  All fresh new clean shoes.

Later in the day.  The missionaries that have been assigned to be the trainers for the new missionaries arrive at the mission home.  They are so excited to get in the door.  This is the scene.

Now with 26 new missionaries comes a bit of luggage, trunks, bikes, back packs and others stuff.  One of the members of the FAAA Ward (yes it has 3 A's) works for the tour company.  He sent a bus over for the 13 arriving Friday morning and the 10 arriving on Saturday morning.  We still don't know how we would have moved them all. Thank goodness we only had to go from the airport back to the Temple Apartments / Hotel.  Until after breakfast and interviews with the President and training.  Then we used all the mission vehicles and all available drives plus a few more vehicles and drivers to get them to the area they will serve in on the island of Tahiti.  If they have assignments on other islands that is whole different story.  We'll get back to that one.  The next few photos are about everyone's stuff.

 Thank you Tahiti Nui Travel.

 Elder Honey waiting to load the rental truck with all the luggage that needs to go to other islands.

 Elder Honey, Elder Abner boy are we glad to see you.  Elder and Sister Jean and Elder & Sister Hemming. (in between photos).  Yes all of this plus the stuff in the office has to go to the boat that goes from island to island.

  It is amazing that they get this stuff without any problems.  We mark it LDS Church, a missionaries name and location like Bora Bora, Mauipiti, Tupuai.  We tell the missionaries to go to the boat in a day or 2 when it arrives at their island.  And voila they stand in line and point to the stuff that belongs to them and someone hands it to them. As long as we have been here I don't know of any missionary
not receiving the items we sent to them.  Brand new bikes, luggage, metal trunks, boxes and of course cookies from Elder and Sister Hemming.

Who's luggage is this? Where is she going?  Where is her companions stuff?  Oh my, it has started to rain.

No, maybe not yet.  Elder Jean was just praying for rain.  It is hot this morning.  Sister Jean,  I think this is the last one that needs to go today.  The boat out to Tubuai is full so we have to wait until the 15th to send the luggage there.  I hope those 2 listened and packed their carry on luggage with necessities. Its going to be several weeks before they get the rest. 

Well that is all for now.  After we get all the bank accounts opened, travel cards and other paperwork completed and purchased things might settle down a bit until January when we receive another large group of missionaries.  We have 72 now and hope to have over 100 early next year.  We don't have very many opportunities to teach the Gospel  but we try to support all the missionaries called to teach.  We love to hear their stories and see their photos.  We have attended several missionary activities where they invite members to bring their friends and let them ask questions and set up appointments if they so desire.  We stay busy and are tired at the end of the day.  Aside from missing family and friends we are enjoying our service here in Tahiti.